U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, speaks with reporters after addressing an audience during a gathering of business leaders at a meeting of the New England Council, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, in Boston. Neal spoke about his legislative priorities during remarks. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

SPRINGFIELD -- U.S. Rep. Richard Neal offered support this week for efforts to lower emissions, develop renewable energy and other proposals set forth in the “Green New Deal,” but stopped short of endorsing the controversial environmental agenda.

The Springfield Democrat praised supporters of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey’s, D-Massachusetts, recently unveiled “Green New Deal” resolution for energizing the climate change conversation on Capitol Hill and across the country.

The congressman, who is the lone Massachusetts delegation member to not back the “Green New Deal,” added that he looks forward to seeing what a new House select committee proposes to combat climate change and welcomes his constituents’ input on the issue.

“Climate change is real, and it’s a threat that requires our bold action. ... House Democrats’ new Select Committee on the Climate Crisis is hard at work developing policy recommendations, and I look forward to seeing their plan and holding hearings on those proposals in the Ways and Means Committee," he said in a statement. “The planet our children and grandchildren inherit depends on the action we take in the next few years. It’s our responsibility to make sensible changes now that prevent a catastrophic future.”

Pointing to his record on other energy and climate change measures, Neal said he’s committed to passing legislation out of the Ways and Means Committee that will help lower emissions, modernize infrastructure, encourage green energy development and slow “troubling ecological trends.”

Neal’s office did not provide further details on why the congressman has not endorsed the “Green New Deal.”

Dozens of environmental activists from across Massachusetts will gather outside Neal’s Springfield office Tuesday afternoon to urge the congressman to sign on to the “Green New Deal” agenda and use his power as the House Ways and Means chairman to help advance the measure.

Organizers with the Boston chapter of Sunrise Movement, a youth-led effort that seeks to force political action on climate change-related issues, noted that the rally will take place in conjunction with others as part of a national day of action.

The “Green New Deal” agenda calls for a series of economic, social and energy overhaul goals to be achieved in the next decade.

They include, among other things: building smart power grids; upgrading all existing buildings and constructing new buildings to achieve maximum energy and water efficiency; removing all pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and agricultural sectors; and cleaning up hazardous waste and abandoned sites.

Nearly 70 lawmakers have signed onto the House version of the resolution, including eight members of Massachusetts’ delegation. Both of Massachusetts’ U.S. senators have also backed the proposal.

An American Action Forum analysis released this week estimated that the “Green New Deal” could cost between $51 trillion and $93 trillion over 10 years.